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Cuesta College Community Programs
(Bldg 4700, San Luis Obispo Cuesta College Campus on Hwy 1)
PO Box 8106, San Luis Obispo, CA 93403-8106
Phone: (805) 546-3132; Fax: (805) 546-3107
 

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Instructor Biographies

	Adney, Curtis - MS, JD, Curtis Adney graduated at the top of his class with a 4.0 GPA, and has a Juris Doctor degree from Brigham Young University and conducts numerous career seminars across the state. He is a life coach and author or a forthcoming book: Pinpoint Your Destiny.
	Ballinger, Nancy - Nancy Ballinger, founder and Spiritual Director of Awakening Interfaith Spiritual Community has studied Eastern Philosophy and meditated for over 25 years. She has loved the opportunity to share meditation with hundreds of students through classes and meditation groups based in the time-tested teachings of Kriya Yoga. She has a M.A. in Psychology, and M. Div. and has been a Marriage and Family Therapist, and an adult educator through college and teacher education programs. Rev. Ballinger has worked locally with Hospice of SLO, AIDS Support Network and for the past 10 yrs. had a ministry through Awakening Interfaith Spiritual Community.
	Bayhan, Ron - Ron Bayhan has a Masters of Arts degree and has lectured studio classes in photography, printmaking, and art appreciation since 1974 in the California Community College and State University systems.
	Becherer, Dale - Dale Becherer, MFA, CMT, Nationally & State Certified Massage Therapist, Reiki Master & Teacher. Dale has been Teaching and Designing Theatrical Scenery and Lights at Universities from Coast to Coast over the last 24 years. Always knowing this was a “temporary” profession while he became more fully developed on his healing path, he pursued massage, Reiki, spiritual and energy healing on the side. After several years of performing these practices in tandem with his performing arts career, he has now brought them into full focus in his life.
	Bradley-Lenet, Jennifer - Jennifer Bradley-Lenet has a Bachelor of Science in Horticulture from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo. She is co-owner of Morro Creek Nursery and Landscape Co, 7th Heaven Organics in Cayucos and has sold blueberries or other certified organic goodies at local Farmers Markets. Jennifer has been a canner and preserver of her organic produce for over 35 years. She also writes garden articles for www.Learn2Grow.com and has traveled throughout the world exploring horticulture and cooking.
	Brewer, Kathryn - Kathryn Brewer, MFT, LEP has had over two decades experience as a School and Educational Psychologist and Marriage and Family Therapist. Her own healing journey has led her through many training programs in intuitive healing, energy psychology and the integration of science and spirituality. Her primary focus is with children and teens, especially those sometimes called the “new humans.” For more information, visit www.QuietStar.com/newkids.htm
	Broida, Dave - Dave Broida, private blues instructor and musician, has taught Beginning Blues Harmonica at California Community Colleges and Parks and Recreation Departments since 2000 and has been performing professionally for more than 20 years throughout Northern California.
	Bumpass, Kathryn - Kathryn Bumpass is a Professor Emerita of Music at California State University, Fresno, where she was the music department’s principle musicologist and a highly rated teacher. Upon retirement in 2004 she moved permanently to Pismo beach and now enjoys the musical scene on the central coast. A specialist in music of the Classic and Romantic eras, she has a special interest in the core operatic repertory and enjoys sharing it with students. Dr. Bumpass holds a BA degree in English, and MA and PhD degrees in historical musicology. She has published articles and presented conference papers on Beethoven’s music and his place in the Romantic pantheon of composers, Borodin’s career as scientist-composer and his Prince Igor, music in 19th century America, and Hildegard von Bingen. She was for a time program annotator for the Fresno Philharmonic and music reviewer for the Fresno Bee.
	Carro, Joseph - Joseph Carro has an M.B.A. from Pepperdine University and owned Comco Computers in Atascadero. He has taught multiple subjects, including accounting, Quickbooks, Italian, Spanish, computer usage, Microsoft Word, and income tax preparation. He has been in the teaching field since 1979 and has taught at Cuesta College since 1998.
	Case Bennett, Phyllis - Phyllis Case Bennett has been a popular teacher of Chinese Brush Painting and Western Watercolor for over 30 years with over 25 years here on the Central Coast. She is associated with the China Art Academy, Hangzhou, China where she has studied annually for many years.
	Cook, Charlotte - Charlotte Cook is president of and story editor for KOMENAR Publishing with fifteen years industry experience. A popular presenter at nationwide conferences, she has a MFA in Creative Writing. As a published writer, her practical business experience has contributed to the success of her own work and the award-winning novelists she has brought to publication. She was featured in Writers Digest Magazine in 2008. www.komenarpublishing.com.
	Davis, Katy - Since 1976, Katy Davis has owned Apple Farm, Porch~Home & Garden and Davis Design Group and has given many talks on interior design to classes at Cuesta, Cal Poly and community groups. She currently teaches Hospitality Management at Cuesta College.
	De Ham, Jarien - Jarien deHam has a BA Art Degree from UCSB, enjoys Asian philosophy, art and martial arts and has done stone sculptor since 2000. She has also studied under Cuesta Community Education instructors Phyllis Bennett (Chinese Painting) and Joy Harvey (Chinese Calligraphy) since 2000.
	Dinunzio, Charlotte Rushton - Charlotte Rushton Dinunzio has worked as a photojournalist at newspapers across the US, UK and Costa Rica. She now runs a successful photography business in Los Osos. Charlotte offers not only a wealth of experience, but also enormous enthusiasm for this subject.
	Doe, Kris Kris Doe is a graduate of Art Center College of Design where he earned his Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Illustration. With over twelve years experience teaching at college level, he understands well the challenges students face at the beginning level and creates a comfortable learning environment that encourages student's personal creativity while learning the basics.
	Dowell, David Dave Dowell has two degrees in history and two in library science, 35 years experience as a librarian and four as a special investigative officer in US Air Force. He has taught courses in US Research and European Research since his retirement in 2007  and has researched his family history for four decades. He is a member of the National Genealogical Society, New England Historic Genealogical Society, Southern California Genealogy Society and the SLO County Genealogical Society. He is co-coordinator of two surname DNA projects and currently chairs the Genealogy Committee of the American Library Association. Check out his blog, Dr. D Diggs Up Ancestors at http://blog.ddowell.com and his more complete resume at http://ddowell.com/dave/resume.pdf
	Forbes, Melinda - Melinda Forbes has a B.S. in Crops Science, MS International Agriculture, spent 2 years in Costa Rica involved in Small Farmer Cropping Systems Research, and over 30 years teaching experience in gardening, herbal studies, cooking, and art classes. She is a lifelong gardener, lived on 1.5 acres of land since the mid 1980s and her garden was included in the San Luis Obispo Botanical Society’s annual garden tour fundraiser, focusing on North County gardens.
	Geltner, Elaina - Co-director of QuietStar Center for Transformation, Elaina Geltner received her Massage Practitioner certification over 20 years ago, and considers massage a necessity, not a luxury, for the health and wellness of body-mind-and spirit. Her webpage www.QuietStar.com/Elaina.htm has lots more info.
	Gray, Lisa - Lisa Gray has a master’s degree in Education/Counseling and Student Services, a Bachelor’s in Human Development and she is also an avid quilter. She is a member of the American Quilt Study Group and the Bear Valley Guilt Guild. She has demonstrated the English Paper technique to local quilters.
	Habib, Kenneth - Kenneth Habib has taught Arabic at Santa Barbara City College and is currently the Assistant Director of the Middlebury College Arabic School. His Ph.D. is in ethnomusicology with a specialization in the Middle East and he also directs Arabic music ensembles at Cal Poly and at the Middlebury College Arabic School.
	Halsted, Diane - Diane Halsted graduated from UC Davis and the College of William and Mary. She has taught writing and literature at several colleges and universities for twenty-five years. Now she teaches the writing of poetry, creative nonfiction, and memoir. Her poetry and essays have been published in journals around the United States.
	Harvey, Joy - Joy Harvey has studied the history and philosophy of Chinese Brush Painting and Calligraphy for over 30 years. To further her expertise, she has completed 13 certificated courses at the China Art Academy in Hangzhou, PRC. Joy loves to explore Chinese Calligraphy for its dynamic and creative expression. She has shown her work internationally, winning awards and distinctions.
	Hoerl, Marilyn - Marilyn Hoerl has a B.A. in Art from California State University, Long Beach and owns her own stained glass business. She has created over 200 windows for homes, churches and businesses.
	Hoffman, Barbara - Barbara Hoffman has 5 years experience in teaching creative writing to children, teens, and adults and 2 years teaching creative writing in after-school program including teens. She is a published author of materials for teachers with 3 years professional editing experience that includes project development and finding and mentoring new authors. Currently she teaches at Cuesta College.
	Johnson, Bill - William Johnson has been Professor of Music at California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, California USA since 1966. He is presently coordinator of instrumental music and conducts the university Wind Orchestra and Wind Ensemble. In great demand as a consultant, Professor Johnson has been a guest conductor, lecturer and clinician throughout the United States, Japan, Europe, New Zealand, Australia, Hong Kong, Israel, Korea and Singapore. For two years, 1993-1995, Johnson served as the President of the World Association for Symphonic Bands and Ensembles (WASBE) and secretary of that association from 1987 to 1991. He was the Executive Director for the International Conference for Conductors, Composers and Publishers held in Manchester, England in 1981, an event that resulted in the formation of WASBE. He was the Conference Chairman for the 9th WASBE Conference held in San Luis Obispo, California, July 5-11, 1999. He is currently the Chairperson of the WASBE Foundation. Johnson is a founding member and Musical Director of the San Luis Obispo Wind Orchestra, an organization of 48 wind and percussion players that specializes in the performance of the finest in wind band literature. The San Luis Obispo Wind Orchestra was formed in 1999 and consists of both professional and amateur musicians in the California Central Coast area of California. He has been a member of the San Luis Obispo Rotary Club since 1969.
	Krull, Joy - Joy Krull is a working professional artist who has been teaching art since 1980. She is experienced in all mediums, including oil/acrylic, watercolor, pastel, drawing and mixed media. She taught at Saddleback College, Coastline College and Tustin and Saddleback Adult Education before coming to Cuesta College in 2000.
	Le Brane, Larry - Larry Le Brane, is a mixed-media glass artist and has been a fine art instructor at California’s Community Colleges for over 3 decades, designing & teaching diverse art workshops & classes. He creates diverse artwork combining fused glass with recycled and found objects. His work is exhibited at several Central Coast galleries and at  www.larrylebrane.com
	Leitch, Frances - Frances Leitch has a BA in English Literature with a writing emphasis. She wrote for Vocational Biographies for 15 years and has done newspaper and feature magazine articles for schools. Frances has written advertising and public relations, written and published poetry, and has novelist techniques experience.
	Lewis, Linda - Linda Lewis has over 30 years of experience as a jewelry designer and over 20 years doing art shows in California and the East Coast. She has a degree in Applied Art and Design from Cal Poly and Diamond Setting Courses at Gemological Institute of America in Santa Monica.
	Manseau, Diana - Diana Manseau, M.F.A., has been teaching fine art in all media since 1980. She has taught through U.C.L.A., community colleges, and museum programs throughout California. Diana's work has been shown in group exhibitions including the Los Angeles County Museum of Art and in one person shows at Nonesuch Fine Arts in Santa Monica and Cuesta College and is represented by the Vault Gallery in Cambria.
	Martin, Jennifer - Jennifer Martin joined the Music Faculty of Cuesta College, San Luis Obispo, CA in the summer of 2004 as the conductor of the Cuesta Wind Ensemble and instructor of Music Theory. At Cuesta, she also coordinates the department's Applied Music and Chamber Music programs, and teaches the new class guitar program.  In the summer of 2008, she became Chair of the Performing Arts Division. This past year, Ms. Martin also was appointed the Interim Coordinator of the new Cultural and Performing Arts Center at Cuesta. Previous to her appointment at Cuesta, she was the Music Department Chair and conductor of the Reno Winds and the Truckee Meadows Community Orchestra at Truckee Meadows Community College in Reno, NV, where she was the founding faculty of the Music Department and created the entire program “from scratch”.  She has also taught and conducted at Whitworth College in Spokane, WA, and Warner Pacific College in Portland, OR. Ms. Martin holds the B.A. degree in Music Education from California State University, Fullerton, and the M.M. degree in Conducting from the University of Redlands. Ms. Martin has conducted or guest conducted many ensembles including the Eastman Wind Ensemble, Nevada Opera, the High Desert Symphony, the San Diego Youth Symphony, the Spokane Youth Orchestra, the Antelope Valley Symphony, the Pasadena Tournament of Roses Band, and high school bands, orchestras, and honor groups in California, Oregon, Washington, and Nevada.  She has won an audition to conduct the San Francisco Youth Symphony as part of a juried workshop given by the American Symphony Orchestra League, and was invited by the CBDNA Board to participate in “A Think Tank for a New Generation” at the University of Texas.
	May, Phil - Phil May has over thirty-five years experience in television production, creating highly stylized programming for a long list of national and international clients. As a staff television producer, he received a prime time Emmy nomination for “Disney’s Wonderful World” television series. As CEO of AI, he’s created programming and for such clients as; Universal/MCA, 20th Century Fox Films, Fox and FX Networks, Walt Disney Studios, Paramount Pictures, Sony, Columbia-TriStar, MGM Studios, HBO, ABC, NBC and CBS Networks, King World Television Syndication and many more. Phil is a proud member of the Directors Guild of America, the Writers Guild of America, the Producers Guild of America, and the Publicists Guild of America.
	McBride, Rhonda - Rhonda McBride is a former fashion designer who has worked with many well-known manufacturers of active sportswear. Her career has included designing collections for White Stag, Puma, and Hot Chilly’s. She currently teaches Fashion Design, Fashion Illustration, and Rendering and Rapid Visualization for Interior Design at Cuesta College.
	Palandoken, Heather - Heather Palandoken has a B.A. in Liberal Studies, has two credentials (Multiple Subjects and Special Education) and began signing at the age of two, after becoming hard of hearing. She has taught deaf and hard of hearing children for thirteen years at the elementary level and has taught at the college level since 2008. Heather is currently teaching ASL at Templeton High School and is a presenter for a program for teaching parents/caregivers ASL to use with young children called Sign2Me.
	Porter, Sue - Sue Porter holds a B.A. degree in French from California State, Northridge and travels extensively in France. She has taught French for Travelers for Cuesta Community Programs since 1987 and also is employed by the Cuesta College Tutorial Center.
	Ramsey, Donna - Donna Ramsey has been a professional painter and refinisher since 1987. She holds a painting contractors license and has taken extensive classes in cabinet work and many faux finishes. She has a strong background in color and design, worked for residential and commercial real estate design and has been a color consultant for many years.
	Schubert, Steve - Steve Schubert has a graduate degree in Biological Sciences. He teaches at an environmental education outdoor school attended by several thousand students each school year and has taught for Cuesta College Community Programs for more than 15 years. He has worked as an instructor at the Audubon Camp in Maine and as a naturalist on cruise ships through the Inside Passage to Alaska. Steve is the volunteer coordinator for the Hi Mountain Lookout Project.
	Seals, Joseph -  Joseph Seals is a Horticultural Consultant/Landscape Designer. He currently teaches at Allan Hancock and Cal Poly, SLO and is KCOY-TV 12’s former “Garden Guru.” He is also an international food authority, a former restaurant chef, a specialty caterer and is the favorite grandson of Vittoria Tocco, Sicilian chef par excellence. Joe has been teaching for Cuesta Community Programs since 2007 and is a former Staff Editor and Writer with Sunset Magazine and Books; free-lance writer to 20+ magazines; writer for four “e-zines”.
	Sheridan, Rick - Rick Sheridan teaches full-time at Wilberforce University in Ohio, and also teaches online courses through the College of Marin and Santa Rosa Community Colleges. He has taught for Cuesta Community Programs since 2005.
	Skinner, James - James Skinner, M,A. has been involved with the psychology of C.G. Jung since 1967. He was on the board of the Orange County Jung Club and a committee member of the C. G. Jung Institute of Los Angeles. Upon moving to San Luis Obispo in 1980 he was one of the founding members of the Central Coast Jung Society. His Master’s thesis at Norwich University was The Color Stages of Alchemy. He continues to be interested in the analytical psychology of C. G. Jung.
	Tyler, Bobbe - Bobbe Tyler is a native Californian, and—like each of her three children—was born and raised in Los Angeles. She moved to Cambria, CA in 1999, one of her reasons being to finally become the full-time writer of her earliest dreams and most serious intentions. Her career up to that time had been in corporate administration and communications, including: a nation-wide architectural and planning firm (Pereira & Luckman); a world-wide film industry company (Lucasfilm Ltd.); and the Times Mirror Corporation, who at that time owned and serviced The Los Angeles Times and other media companies. Now realizing her life-long objective to write full-time, she has recently finished her first book: Searching for Soul: A Survivor’s Guide, published by Ohio University/Swallow Press.
	Vaughn, Suzan - Suzan Vaughn holds a B.A. in Psychology and an M.A. in Communication and has been a student and teacher of metaphysical phenomenon for more than 25 years. As a psychic counselor, she has helped hundreds of people identify issues facing their beloved pets, predict their future, and sort out life’s toughest circumstances.  Suzan serves as Contributing Editor at Species Link Magazine, the magazine for inter-species  communicators, in association with animal communication pioneer Penelope Smith.
	Vembu, Neomi - Neomi Vembu was raised in the Washington, DC Metro area and has a Bachelor of Science in Advertising Design from the University of Maryland, College Park. She has over 20 years of experience as a print designer and 10 as a web site designer. Neomi is proficient in Adobe CS4, Joomla and Wordpress content management systems, social media, supporting office software and utility software. Neomi owns create envy graphic design in San Luis Obispo County.
	Voices for All - The Voices for All Voice Coach/Producer/Instructors are known for their fun and informative presenting methods. Our Coaches have many years experience in the Voiceover Industry, and are masters at teaching all of the information pertinent to making it in Voice Acting. Whether it be speaking, presenting, writing, producing, or announcing, Voices For All has it covered. With hundreds of Regional & National Commercials, and Public Service Announcements under their belts, our instructors not only deliver the highest quality education and coaching to their students, but their unique enthusiasm and expertise bring an element of fun and excitement to the classroom as well.
	Waldorf, Laura Lee - Laura Lee Waldorf is a certified Bonnie Prudden Myotherapist and Natural Health Consultant who is committed to assisting people in their quest to take back responsibility over ones own health or sickness. She provides an interactive self-healing how-to program developed through over 20 years of study and experience.
	Wilshusen, Cynthia - Cynthia Wilshusen holds an MBA with a concentration in Enterprise Accounting. She has worked in the accounting and financial industry for 18 exciting years. She served as the Director of the Cuesta College Small Business Development Center where she consulted business owners in business development and accounting. She owns her own bookkeeping and business development business and is a QuickBooks Pro Advisor. She has been teaching at Cuesta College for eleven years in a variety of topics including computerized accounting and principles of accounting, plus other computer related topics. She also teaches at Santa Barbara City College online for similar topics.

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